Ken's story: Co2uT

BaseCamp athlete Ken Carl shared his experience at the 2025 Co2uT event in Colorado.

Vanquishing ghosts while embracing the ride.

There has been a ghost on my rides. This one attached last November in my over ambitious 200 mile attempt of REXY gravel in Fruita Colorado. For all their emptiness ghost can be quite heavy.

Saturday May 03 the Co2uT desert gravel presented the perfect opportunity to return that ghost to that desert. After the potassium loss and hospital stay of my last ride here I was developing a hesitation for riding at altitude. An uncomfortable hesitation given how much I enjoy the mountains, high desert and open spirit riding.

I will also call this the unexpected century ride. It was not on my calendar until three weeks ago. In previous years I would have done at least one century ride, if not several by now. With Mid South burned out and the uneven weather, this year has been less then an ideal spring.

The race director Morgan (a very wonderful human) and I discussed my returning. After he rescued me in his truck that dark night, I wanted to be sure he was okay with my retuning. He welcomed me with open arms, reminding me I had been successful previous and will be so again.

I next connected with fellow BaseCamper Beth Collins, who live in Fruita. This is the goodness and power of the BaseCamp Explore team. Friendship, support, knowing others on the ride create powerful positive moments. Thank you Beth! A big shout out to Beth for going big. Taking age group first place in the 125 mile distance.

My signup was for the 100 mile. Talking with Beth I began to consider the 125. She calmly reminded me staying with my plan would be the best plan. Yep. Right on.

Luck was also on my side. The AirBnb I had was 100 yards from the start. No car park, bike pack pre ride stress. Just roll out the door to the start.

Pre race prep was more intense then normal. That potassium ghost was no joke. This will be a no-hospital-stay-allowed event. I was exact with my pre hydration, fueling, and power utilization. One significant addition, upgrade what doing an IV hydration endurance mix 48 hours prior. I went to Prime IV in Grand Junction. Champion mix with endurance blend. The effect was immediate I believe due to the B complexes. I am convinced that my overall performance was enhanced. Not miraculously, yet it helped ensure that I would thrive in this ride and not just survive. I will consider it for future A events.

Race start weather was perfect. Arm warmer vest cool with blue sunnies. I let the opening energy flow for a bit and calmed back watching the lead pack drift. Planned to meter my energy and take advantage of all 4 rest stops. I knew this would slow my finish time, yet time was not the goal today. Thriving and enjoying was. Slowed to talk with riders I passed, stopped for photos of the amazing landscape, even stopping once at the top of a climb just to enjoy the moment. Being on my bike in the middle of the high desert with 50 miles done and 50 to go, being there feeling right with the moment and life. That was a very important pause. I believe my life will enrich if I remember to take these gratitude pauses more often.

There were those for sure racing, and I was impressed! The lead women field of 5 containing fellow BaseCamper Shannon Miller ( who placed second overall) flew by me at mile 25 looking every bit like a TDF breakaway. Solid fast and determined.

This course is tough. The longer climbs and steep rollers come in the last 25 miles.

It was in these rollers, steeps with loose sand, deep ruts and no shade where I picked up my ghost. Back in November, I was walking, stumbling up those step pitches till I could walk no more. On this beautiful day in May, I was riding with a smile. In one of those gullies my ghost floated away back into the silent twisted dry trees. The final ten miles were a most wonderful trip to the finish.

…and for those who follow my postings...yes, I remembered my BaseCamp jersey this time! I brought 3 to be sure.